His Wife (A Contract Marriage Story) by Heer Mangtani

Chapter 27

The children’s hospital was a fun change, especially the way all the donated flowers filled in every vase of every room and more. We didn’t just stop there. We visited a few kids, and Gabriel even read a story to a bunch of them in the play area. There was a certain sparkle in his eyes when he picked a little girl up, and helped her braid her hair when she asked him to, and miserably failed at it, and I had to step in. My heart fluttered when he held a few month old crying baby in his arms securely cradling him, and the baby instantly stopped crying. I knew I was in trouble when I realised Gabriel Whitlock had a soft side that he concealed from the world so effortlessly, but hadn’t hesitated showing in front of me.

He thought I didn’t notice when he slipped away and sneakily brought out his chequebook and scribbled something with a few zeroes and his signature underneath.

I knew I was in serious trouble when sleeping was hard that night, and I dreamt more about the man at the end of the hallway sleeping next to me than his body doing things to me. That would’ve been a sweet bonus though.

It was also the first night I touched myself thinking of Gabriel. The first time without him watching, that is.

I had considered walking to his room naked under a robe and asking him to f*ck me like he had promised to, but chickened out at the last moment. My heart was having serious trouble recognising that my husband was my husband just for a few months more and I couldn’t fall for him, and I could not add sex to the mixture.

Sex that he was wonderful at..

Even as much as I wanted to, I couldn’t. Not that night at least, but I wasn’t sure how much longer I could hold out.

On Monday morning, I had my resignation letter printed out. I was required to give a two week notice, and I felt horrible doing this just after Drew, the head of my tear resigned.

After lunch, I visited Viktor’s office.

“I just wanted to hand in my two-week notice,” I told hum, handing over the letter when he asked me to come in.

His lips pursed. “I’d be lying if I say I didn’t expect

I expect this.”

“You did?”

“You’re Gabriel’s wife. Of course he wouldn’t let you work under me. Not with our history.”

“Your… history?”

“Oh, he didn’t tell you?” Viktor didn’t sound apologetic at all, even as he added, “I’m sorry I mentioned anything at all then, wasn’t my place.”

I nodded, smiled formally, and left his office, back to my desk. I knew he was trying to bait me, and it had worked. I knew Wales was a direct competitor of the Whitlock company and that Gabriel and Viktor often bumped heads, but I did not know there was some history that strained their relations, or that they even had a relation outside of work.

“So, you’re actually leaving?” James peeked from his desk to mine, pulling me out of his thoughts.

I nodded, fake pouting. “Husband’s orders,” I joked.

“Td happily take my husband’s orders if he was a hot billionaire with his own company too.”

I swatted his arm playfully. “Look at how attached you’ve grown to me in just a month. You’ll miss me.”

“I will.” He sighed, “Maybe you can convince the husband to employ both of us.”

I can, I joked, “But then Viktor would probably sue the flick out of Whitlock

1/4

12:31 Tue, Jun 4

Chapter 27

+G

pretty sure there’s no law against stealing employees, it just shows bad faith in business.

for the rest of the day even though my thoughts kept carrying me to what Viktor had mentioned. James was inviting me for dinner that weekend at his house when Steve was planning yo cook when we exited the building after work, and I shocked when I saw a Mustang parked right

looked at him, his mouth would be open, just like mine should have been, but being married to this man had taught me

I called him softly as I walked ahead. Gabriel straightened, walking towards me with long

husband greeted

had never called me babe. Raby, yes, once, when

here for a meeting?” I asked, eyebrows

smiles. Im just picking up my wife from work. Do I

lips onto mine. I froze, and before

just stared at the man,

at me, he was looking past my shoulder. “Is that your friend,

James. This show he put up was for James. To show him that I was married and

Was he jealous?

He seemed jealous…

is James. In fact, James

work dinner

my lips to hold in a smile. “You can go for that. I can

push the

said in a nonsense tone.

to my poor friend, glare fixated on him. “You can push the dinner, can’t you

works just fine too. My boyfriend is the one who’s going to be cooking, so I’ll just check

boyfriend, huh?” Gabriel said, his

ignoring him “Bye James, see

mr. told Gabriel it was nice to meet him, and

Tue, Jun

Chapter 27

were jealous, I teased Gabriel as soon as James was gone, and he glared at

punish you

were the one who went all caveman

actually rolled my eyes. “Now get in, we

I asked as I did get in the backseat of the car, and Gabriel got in from the other end as the driver drove. “I thought you came here

you submit your

my two-weeks

supposed to

firmly, “But I

heard him

you might